The saga of YouTube TV and Fox Regional Sports Networks appears to finally be resolved.
Last week we learned that YouTube TV would be losing Fox regional sports networks and YES Network because YouTube TV and Sinclair Broadcasting Group, owner of those Fox RSNs, were unable to reach a new distribution agreement. YouTube TV then revealed it had reached a temporary extension to keep the channels and now a permanent deal has been struck, but a few of those channels will still be going away.
With the new deal between YouTube TV and Sinclair, YouTube TV will retain 19 of the 21 Fox RSNs, including Fox Sports Midwest, Fox Sports South, and Fox Sports North. The two RSNs that'll be disappearing from YouTube TV include Prime Ticket and Fox Sports West. They'll be going away today, March 5th.
Additionally, YouTube TV is losing the YES Network, which shows New York sports like the Yankees and Nets.
"YouTube TV, for its own selfish reasons and with total disregard for YES customers, has refused to pay the market rate and accept market terms and conditions that other YES distributors have agreed to," YES Network said in a statement today. "In fact, YouTube TV sought a rate that was well below what other YES distributors are paying, and because YES keeps its word to all of its distributors, it could not make the deal."
It's good to see that YouTube TV will be holding on to most of Sinclair's regional Fox sports networks after this whole ordeal, but the loss of the YES Network is sure to be frustrating to some customers.